WASHINGTON — Michael Vick brought his anti-dogfighting message to a sparse crowd at a southwest Washington church on Tuesday.

The Philadelphia Eagles quarterback told the audience he regretted the decisions that led to his 18-month prison sentence for running a dogfighting ring in Surry County, Va.

The afternoon event at Covenant Baptist Church, in one of the city's poorest neighborhoods, was sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States. Vick has been working with the group since his release from prison this summer and has appeared at similar Humane Society events in Atlanta, Chicago and Philadelphia.

Vick repeatedly called dogfighting "pointless" and said he doesn't know why he got so involved in it. He said he wants to be an example for change.